Blue Ridge Marathon fueling plan
Where every Blue Ridge Marathon water and gel station falls at your pace, plus a carb and sodium plan built for your finish time.
Course route from organiser maps and OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Map tiles by Esri. Check the official course before race day.
Blue Ridge Marathon
Saturday 17 April, 7:35 start
- Distance
- 42.2 km
- Aid stations
- 23, all with water and sports drink
- Gels on the course
- Mile 7, 18.6 and 23.2
Something wrong with this course? Email us
Want training-aware nutrition around this race? See Mavr on the App Store
General guidance for healthy adults, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or registered dietitian if you have a health condition, take medicines or have special dietary needs. Caffeine advice is for healthy adults only. EFSA's safe limit is 200 mg in one dose and 400 mg in a day.
Every Blue Ridge Marathon aid station, and when you reach it
Time on the clock from your start, at an even pace. The orange dot marks the gel stations.
| Distance | What is there | 3:30 finish | 4:00 finish | 4:30 finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile 1.2 (1.9 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 0:10 | 0:11 | 0:12 |
| Mile 2.6 (4.2 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 0:21 | 0:24 | 0:27 |
| Mile 4 (6.4 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 0:32 | 0:37 | 0:41 |
| Mile 4.9 (7.9 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 0:39 | 0:45 | 0:50 |
| Mile 6.1 (9.8 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 0:49 | 0:56 | 1:03 |
| Mile 7 (11.3 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel, GU Energy Gel | 0:56 | 1:04 | 1:12 |
| Mile 8.8 (14.2 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 1:10 | 1:21 | 1:31 |
| Mile 9.5 (15.3 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 1:16 | 1:27 | 1:38 |
| Mile 10.1 (16.3 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 1:21 | 1:32 | 1:44 |
| Mile 10.8 (17.4 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 1:27 | 1:39 | 1:51 |
| Mile 11.9 (19.2 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 1:35 | 1:49 | 2:03 |
| Mile 12.6 (20.3 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 1:41 | 1:55 | 2:10 |
| Mile 14.3 (23 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 1:55 | 2:11 | 2:27 |
| Mile 15 (24.1 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 2:00 | 2:17 | 2:34 |
| Mile 16 (25.8 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 2:08 | 2:26 | 2:45 |
| Mile 17 (27.4 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 2:16 | 2:36 | 2:55 |
| Mile 18.6 (29.9 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel, GU Energy Gel | 2:29 | 2:50 | 3:12 |
| Mile 19.4 (31.2 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 2:35 | 2:58 | 3:20 |
| Mile 20.2 (32.5 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 2:42 | 3:05 | 3:28 |
| Mile 21.3 (34.3 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 2:51 | 3:15 | 3:39 |
| Mile 23.2 (37.3 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel, GU Energy Gel | 3:06 | 3:32 | 3:59 |
| Mile 24.3 (39.1 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 3:15 | 3:42 | 4:10 |
| Mile 24.9 (40.1 km) | Water, Tailwind Endurance Fuel | 3:19 | 3:48 | 4:16 |
From the organizer's published course information. Check the runner information again in race week.
Sample plans for three finish times
Built for a 70 kg runner in mild weather with Maurten Gel 100 (25 g) and water at the aid stations. Pick how much carbohydrate you want to aim for. Your own plan changes with your weight, gel and the weather.
A middle target most runners can train up to.
3:30 finish
8:01 per mile
- 50 g carbs per hour
- 7 gels, first at 0:21 (Mile 2.6 (4.2 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 50 g carbs per hour
- 8 gels, first at 0:24 (Mile 2.6 (4.2 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
4:30 finish
10:18 per mile
- 50 g carbs per hour
- 9 gels, first at 0:27 (Mile 2.6 (4.2 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
3:30 finish
8:01 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 10 gels, first at 0:21 (Mile 2.6 (4.2 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 11 gels, first at 0:24 (Mile 2.6 (4.2 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
4:30 finish
10:18 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 13 gels, first at 0:27 (Mile 2.6 (4.2 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
3:30 finish
8:01 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 13 gels, first at 0:21 (Mile 2.6 (4.2 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 15 gels, first at 0:24 (Mile 2.6 (4.2 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
4:30 finish
10:18 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 17 gels, first at 0:27 (Mile 2.6 (4.2 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
Race-day facts
- Date
- Saturday, 17 April 2027
- Start
- 7:35
- Distance
- 26.2 miles (42.2 km)
Blue Ridge Marathon fueling FAQ
Where are the water stations on the Blue Ridge Marathon?
There are 23 aid stations and all of them have water: at Mile 1.2 (1.9 km), Mile 2.6 (4.2 km), Mile 4 (6.4 km), Mile 4.9 (7.9 km), Mile 6.1 (9.8 km), Mile 7 (11.3 km), Mile 8.8 (14.2 km), Mile 9.5 (15.3 km), Mile 10.1 (16.3 km), Mile 10.8 (17.4 km), Mile 11.9 (19.2 km), Mile 12.6 (20.3 km), Mile 14.3 (23 km), Mile 15 (24.1 km), Mile 16 (25.8 km), Mile 17 (27.4 km), Mile 18.6 (29.9 km), Mile 19.4 (31.2 km), Mile 20.2 (32.5 km), Mile 21.3 (34.3 km), Mile 23.2 (37.3 km), Mile 24.3 (39.1 km) and Mile 24.9 (40.1 km). All of them also serve a sports drink.
Are there gels on the Blue Ridge Marathon course?
Yes, the organizer lists gels at Mile 7 (11.3 km), Mile 18.6 (29.9 km) and Mile 23.2 (37.3 km). Carry your own as well, so your plan does not depend on a single table.
When does the Blue Ridge Marathon start?
The race is on Saturday, 17 April 2027, starting at 7:35 local time. Check the organizer's runner information in race week, since wave times can change.
How many gels do I need for the Blue Ridge Marathon?
It depends on your finish time and how much carbohydrate you have practised taking. At a steady target, a 4:00 finish uses about 11 gels of 25 g, or 75 g of carbs per hour. Enter your own pace, weight and gel in the calculator to get your number.